Madison times. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1884-1???, 1887-04-09
DRAWING THE ENEMY'S FIRE
New York Leader.

daughters, he would not have made
such a mess OF bringing up Frank. /
remember the story OF the woman who
said that when her first child was an
infant, she would run up stairs hall
dozen times in the course OF the even
ing after she had put it in its crib, to
see II it breathed right. But" said
she, CATER had had three | was per-
fectly satisfied if they breathed at all.
So it would have been with Mr.. Mas
sey, but so it wasn't. He hadn't any
other child but Frank, and he contin-
ued to watch Franks breathing until
he was one and twenty-until, indeed,
he was about to be married.
tie was about to marry me, or that
is what he wanted to do. We were
Instantly related, not by blood, how
ever, yet had never seen each other
until my father. who was u poor man,
bought small farm adjoining Mr..
Massey's large one. Frank kindly
rode over TO see US and claim relation
ship, but his father never took that
txouble.
Frank looked like his father; they
were both handsome men. Mr.. Mas
sey was only ffty-four, but no one
ever thought he would marry again.
When he found out how often Frank
came to our house, there vas trouble.
He forbid Frank coming to see me,
but 1t was too late to prevent what
he dreaded; we were already engaged.
"It's a confounded bore" said
Frank, one evening, when | met him
in the lane, out OF sight of the Massey
mansion. "My team mule, Billy, is
nothing to father when he gets set.
Now, supposing when we are married
that he cuts up and refuses me any
money!
"Well!" said |. interrogatively.
at isn't WELL" replied Frank, i'm
patiently. II don't see how on earth
I'd take care of-you. / don't know
how to work"
My enthusiasm was rather dampen-
ed. Now l was not going 10 marry
Frank on account OF his money, but |
was by no means indifferent to it. Ii
l had met him as poor man, should
have loved him all the same, and
ingly; but having expected to be rich
when / married, it was certainly disa-
greeable to be told that / might not
be rich-moreOyer, that my husband
did not know how to work, and could
not take care ofme. remember look
ing at MIN as he stood there under the
trees, and wondering if, with three
or four children on my hands, per
haps, should have 10 take care OF
him. l recollect that the thought
cooled my ardor little, and sat on
the stone wall and moodily tore rose
buds TO pieces during the remainder
OF the interview.
81 didn't sleep well that night. The
next day was still inclined to look
on the dark side OF things. had
cooled so much toward Frank when |
met him again that he noticed it.
"What is the natter" said he
do you want to give me up?"
p .Don't be unreasonable, Frank"
said j, with fretiul laugh. "Oi
course dent"
'Then what makes you SO cold?
You jerk away every time touch
you, as II my hand stung you"
I'm sick" said | land / don't feel
affectionate. You can't always ex-
pect to find me in the same mood"
He stood silently looking at me.
The sight of my downcast face seemed
TO irritate him. His blue eyes grew
dark and stormy.
"You think | am going to lose my
money" said he. "Ifthat is what you
care for you had better marry Ruie
Reynolds and be sure of fortune. He
has as mnch as / and no father to
shut it of. Don't be discouraged, my
dear. IL you want to marry money
YOU have plenty OF chances. There is
Johnny Wall, the old miser, who would
probably, marry you tomorrow"
was too angry to speak, so / just
turned around and walked away.
Of course | went to bed very misera-
BILE.
Twas working in the garden the next
morning when Miss Fox came in at
the gate. She was the village school
teacher that summer. / don't know
where she came from; j never knew.
was very glad to become acquainted
with her, because she knew so much
about books, and Twas nearly starved
for them.
Cant wait but q moment, dear"
said she, kissing me; tits most time
Tor school to take up. Why, what's
the matter with your eyes? Have
You been crying?"
) We sat down on the grass and /
told her all my troubles.
II hate that pompous old Squire
Massey" said /. He's rich and lazy,
and hasn't anything TO do but watch
us as cat does a mouse. Frank and
have to meet down in the lane, and
Franks always in i'll humor at the
iuss his father makes, and I'm perfect
~ miserable. No girl ever had such
. hard time before"
my love-" said Miss Fox, "'tis
Just as you say about the Squire.
He's idle. and so makes a great bug
bear OF Frank marrying you, because
he has nothing else to think about"
HAS he Franks money, dear?
SAID she. playing with my curls.
"fes," i answered. Frank really
hasn anything but what ne leaves
INN, excepting a few hundred left
by my uncle-twelve hundred, believe.
But he's an only child, and it's the
ZANE thing as being master at the
Glades."
Yes. OF course, observed Miss Fox.
'Only he can, you know" said 1. be-
ginning TO cry again, ''if he gets very
angry at Frank, leave the estate and
everything else to some orphan society
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